Life in prison for ‘umgidi’ rapist

Sinethemba Xilongile, 31, was sentenced to life in prison for raping two young girls while they were returning from a homecoming (umgidi) in their village of Mputhi in Dutywa.

The Butterworth Regional Court sentenced Xilongile to two life sentences in prison.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the victims are between the ages of 16 and 17.

According to the report, Xilongile attacked the girls as they were leaving the house where the homecoming was held. After that, he threatened them with a knife and told them to go to the fields, where he raped one of the victims and bound the other not to run away.

According to the Eastern Cape NPA spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, Xilongile released one of the victims to go home after raping her and took the other to his house where he raped her.

According to Tyali, the victim was able to flee the house because there was a knock on the door and she had a chance to flee. She told her sister what had happened when she got home.

This occurred in July 2019, following which he fled and returned in May 2022, when the case arose, and he was arrested.

Xilongile pleaded not guilty in court during the trial, claiming that he was in a relationship with the victim (17).

The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, praised the prosecutors and detectives for ensuring the case’s continuation.